Hong Kong-registered vessel Chipolbrok Sun narrowly escaped two pirate ships in the northern part of the Gulf of Aden on Friday, China Maritime Rescue Center said.

The container ship, owned by the Chinese-Polish Joint Stock Shipping Company in Shanghai, called the rescue center at noon on Friday, saying it was being pursued by pirates. It also called for help from two nearby British naval vessels.

The pirates gave up their chase after half an hour.